A Digital Star Wars Scrapbook.

Last week we followed the ups and downs of Star Wars gaming as it grew out of the 8-bit home computer market and rode the wave of console gaming into the mid-90s. In this final chapter, Dan Whitehead picks up the story as the home PC went from being a fancy-pants calculator and started to make its mark as a games machine, right up to the release of the Star Wars prequel movies... [More]

Generally regarded by most people as the weakest movie in the original trilogy (which is not to say it is bad, just that the others are better), Return of the Jedi usually produces the weakest video game adaptation, and Super Return of the Jedi is no exception. Perhaps it is simply that the game play so similar to the first two games that a feeling of 'been there, done that' is creeping in. In any case, unlike the first two videogames, Super Star Wars and Super Empire Strikes Back, Nintendo Power did not think Super Return of the Jedi worthy of the front cover of their December '94 magazine. However, they did devote 8 pages to detailing the game play of this last videogame in the original trilogy. [More]

Both the September and October issues of Nintendo Power featured articles on Super Empire Strikes Back. The first was an interesting behind the scenes look at the making of the videogame, while the latter was the standard guide to help you play the game. [More]

The screen fills with stars, then the world famous theme music bursts out and the adventure begins all over again. Lucasarts Entertainment and JVC, along with innovative developer. Sculptured Software, have recreated the cinematic experience for the Super NES, only this time the fate of the galaxy lies in your hands. Super Star Wars truly uses the force of the Super NES, with digitized frames and sound effects from the movie, dazzling Mode 7 effects, never ending challenge and a wide variety of action sequences. It’s so hot, you can almost hear it I sizzle. [More]

Last time we looked at the period we’ll call the Old Republic, back when 8-bit Jedi Knights kept the gaming world safe from scum and villainy. That brought us up to 1987, when Domark ported Atari’s wire-frame arcade classics to every home computer in the known galaxy. As Dan Whitehead discovers, 1987 also marked the beginning of a new era in Star Wars gaming.

With 3 magazine articles, 4 videos and links to play all of the games discussed both online and at home for free, this is one post you won't want to miss! [More]

The first two Star Wars prequels may have dipped below our expectations, but in early 2005 the upcoming prospect of Episode III had Retro Gamer stupidly excited... so excited that they asked Star Wars uber-geek Dan Whitehead to chart the history of games based on the sci-fi saga. In this article, the first of a three part series leading up to the release of the new movie, Dan looks at Atari’s original arcade trilogy and the early computer and console licenses. [More]